Sanford Turns Off Water At Complex

The Service Was Disconnected At Two Ridgewood Villas Buildings After Residents Failed To Pay Their Bills.

August 6, 1999|By Robert Perez of The Sentinel Staff

SANFORD - City officials cut off water service to two buildings at Ridgewood Villas on Thursday after a plan to collect money from residents failed.

City Manager Tony VanDerworp said water was cut off to Buildings 3 and 5 at the complex near Seminole High School. The owner of Buildings 1 and 2, Lake Mary real estate investor Jack Sirianni, made a partial payment to the city earlier this week after meeting with VanDerworp, so water service remains to those buildings.

It was unclear Thursday whether any tenants still live in Buildings 1 and 2.

In the meantime, more residents are moving out. Earlier this week, the city estimated 28 of the complex's 60 units were occupied. But by Thursday evening, the number was down to around six, according to Peter Hickey, a legal services attorney who represents some residents.

Hickey said Thursday that he wasn't sure whether there were any residents left in the buildings where the water had been turned off. Earlier this week, he talked with several residents of those two buildings who planned to move out.

Part of the city's problem has been determining who owns which units. Some residents own their apartments as condominiums. Sirianni or his family owns other units. Others are owned by Lakeland financier James Shirkey.

Some residents, Hickey said, have complained they have already paid for the water, either as part of the rent or monthly condominium association fees. They say the landlords and condo manager, however, didn't forward the money to the city.

Residents also complained that the complex is falling apart and no one is making repairs. A state inspector ordered the complex closed on June 7, citing safety and unsanitary conditions. The city cut off water on July 21, but turned it back on two days later because of an emergency order signed by County Judge Carmine Bravo.

Circuit Judge Seymour Benson lifted the injunction Tuesday, but made it clear he wanted to keep the water flowing. He recommended the parties work out a payment plan.